"Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?" Psalm 119:82
How often have we wondered and said the same thing the Psalmist did-- "When will You help me, Lord?". Sometimes it seems as if His help is far away or as if it will never come. I am sure Joseph felt this way when he was in the pit, Potiphar's house and the prison. Surely these question went through his mind on more than one occasion- Have You forgot about me, Lord? Will Your promise ever be fulfilled in my life? Is this all there is? Where are You? Why is this happening?
These question are common to all of us especially when we are in situations that we don't understand. We are at a disadvantage, humanly speaking, because we can't see past the moment or into the future; we can't see the whole picture behind what is happening; we can't see past the natural into the eternal. Therefore, the questions are always present. But having said that, I should also say that on the other hand when we face these times, we also have an advantage. The advantage is that though we don't understand, we can still have peace. "My peace I give to you". (John 14:27)
We have access to the peace of God that passes understanding when we are going through trials and difficulties. We aren't totally at the "mercy" of our inability to understand what is happening to us. Not understanding is often worse than actually going through the situation. The questions plague us and we reason within ourselves that if we could just get an answer it would seem to make it easier to bear.
Some things we will not understand until we get to heaven. But whether we understand or not we can still say, "It is well", because the peace that God's gives to His children can and will overshadow the questions and lack of understanding if we will draw from it.
There will always be things that we go through that we may not understand at the moment, or ever understand, but the peace of God will be there for us. It will be like a blanket on a cold winter's night. It may still be cold, but under the blanket you'll be warm and comfortable. The questions may still be there, but your heart and mind will be established in peace.
Have a great day. We will always have questions because we will always go through things that we don't understand, but God's peace is available to bring comfort even when we don't have the answers we want. His peace will be our answer.
For further reading:
John 14:27
Philippians 1:2; 4:6-8
Psalm 29:11
Colossians 3:15
2 Thessalonians 3:16
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
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Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
"Think About What's Above"
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2
This verse is pretty plain, to the point and easy to understand. Set our affections, which in the original text means to set our minds or thoughts on things above- or in other words, "think about what is above and not on what is here below."
Most of our thought life is consumed with the cares of this life. We spend our time thinking about tomorrow, the future, our jobs, our problems, our financial situation, what we will eat and drink, what other people think about us and what we are going to do next.
Let's look at what this verse is saying to us:
"Set your affection/thoughts"... To set yourself to do something means there is a deliberate action involved. You don't just "happen" to think about the things above, you must make yourself and discipline yourself to do so.
"Set your affections/thoughts"... To set your mind means to become firm, solid, or permanent, as mortar, glue or cement. It doesn't mean we occasionally think about the things above, or just when we are in church, or only when we need help. Our thoughts about the things above should not be passing, momentary thoughts only but permanently set on the things above.
"... on things above..." What is above? The eternal; the abiding place of God; the Kingdom of God; heaven; the place of God's rule; our future home if we have accepted Jesus as Savior and are following Him as Lord.
"...above, not on things on the earth." Our thoughts should be focused above- on a higher place- not on a lower one. Am I saying we should never think about what we are doing or have to do here on earth? Of course not. But I am sure we spend too much time consumed with the daily affairs and tasks of this life without regard or thought to what is above. What is above is eternal and what is here below is temporal. We need to be setting our thoughts on what is eternal, because this being temporal means it is temporary- and it could be gone tomorrow.
Have a great day. Where are you setting your affections/thoughts on? On things above or on what is here below?
For further reading:
Matthew 6:25
Luke 21:34
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:5-8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
This verse is pretty plain, to the point and easy to understand. Set our affections, which in the original text means to set our minds or thoughts on things above- or in other words, "think about what is above and not on what is here below."
Most of our thought life is consumed with the cares of this life. We spend our time thinking about tomorrow, the future, our jobs, our problems, our financial situation, what we will eat and drink, what other people think about us and what we are going to do next.
Let's look at what this verse is saying to us:
"Set your affection/thoughts"... To set yourself to do something means there is a deliberate action involved. You don't just "happen" to think about the things above, you must make yourself and discipline yourself to do so.
"Set your affections/thoughts"... To set your mind means to become firm, solid, or permanent, as mortar, glue or cement. It doesn't mean we occasionally think about the things above, or just when we are in church, or only when we need help. Our thoughts about the things above should not be passing, momentary thoughts only but permanently set on the things above.
"... on things above..." What is above? The eternal; the abiding place of God; the Kingdom of God; heaven; the place of God's rule; our future home if we have accepted Jesus as Savior and are following Him as Lord.
"...above, not on things on the earth." Our thoughts should be focused above- on a higher place- not on a lower one. Am I saying we should never think about what we are doing or have to do here on earth? Of course not. But I am sure we spend too much time consumed with the daily affairs and tasks of this life without regard or thought to what is above. What is above is eternal and what is here below is temporal. We need to be setting our thoughts on what is eternal, because this being temporal means it is temporary- and it could be gone tomorrow.
Have a great day. Where are you setting your affections/thoughts on? On things above or on what is here below?
For further reading:
Matthew 6:25
Luke 21:34
Romans 12:2
Philippians 4:5-8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
"Put Behind You"
"Then the disciples went away again unto their own home." John 20:10
The crucifixion of Jesus was past. The disciples had discovered the empty tomb. Now we see them back at their own homes- back to everyday life, and back to the way things were before. This reminded me of how we are. A couple of days ago we celebrated the death and resurrection of our Savior. It was a wonderful day. There were special events planned for the day, time with family, special church services to attend, programs that centered around Jesus resurrection, and so on. It was a "big" day.
I wonder, though, now that the day that we set aside to celebrate what Jesus did for us has passed, have we "returned" to life as usual? Will what we celebrated Sunday be just a once a year event- forgotten until next year?
Everyday for the Christian should be a day of remembrance and celebration. Each day when we wake up we should acknowledge the price that He paid for our sins. I don't take it for granted until next year, or even until next Sunday. Daily I remember the sacrifice that He willingly paid. I remember His victory over death, hell and the grave. I seek this wonderful risen Savior on a daily basis.
What about you? Is your acknowledge of Him and what He has done for you at the cross forgotten now that the celebration is over? Will your love for Him be shown daily, weekly, monthly or annually? Will you be like the disciples, putting the events behind you and going on with life as usual?
Have a great day. The day we set aside to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus may be passed, but will you continue to celebrate Him or will you put it behind you forgotten until next year?
For further reading:
John 21:1-3
1 Corinthians 11:26
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
The crucifixion of Jesus was past. The disciples had discovered the empty tomb. Now we see them back at their own homes- back to everyday life, and back to the way things were before. This reminded me of how we are. A couple of days ago we celebrated the death and resurrection of our Savior. It was a wonderful day. There were special events planned for the day, time with family, special church services to attend, programs that centered around Jesus resurrection, and so on. It was a "big" day.
I wonder, though, now that the day that we set aside to celebrate what Jesus did for us has passed, have we "returned" to life as usual? Will what we celebrated Sunday be just a once a year event- forgotten until next year?
Everyday for the Christian should be a day of remembrance and celebration. Each day when we wake up we should acknowledge the price that He paid for our sins. I don't take it for granted until next year, or even until next Sunday. Daily I remember the sacrifice that He willingly paid. I remember His victory over death, hell and the grave. I seek this wonderful risen Savior on a daily basis.
What about you? Is your acknowledge of Him and what He has done for you at the cross forgotten now that the celebration is over? Will your love for Him be shown daily, weekly, monthly or annually? Will you be like the disciples, putting the events behind you and going on with life as usual?
Have a great day. The day we set aside to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior Jesus may be passed, but will you continue to celebrate Him or will you put it behind you forgotten until next year?
For further reading:
John 21:1-3
1 Corinthians 11:26
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
"Snaky Area"
"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" Genesis 3:1
The other day my granddaughter was over and we were playing with her bouncing ball outside. A couple of times the ball rolled into an area that was around some taller grass. When this happened, she would tell me, "You, get it, that's snaky". We have lots of snakes in our part of the country and evidently her mother has been teaching her to be careful of certain areas around the yard that are grown up with weeds and grass because they are "snaky" areas. (This means that they are good places for snakes to be and hide.)
The Bible refers to satan as a serpent/snake. He likes to "hide" in certain places waiting for us to get within a close enough distance for him to "strike" at us. That being the case, we should have the same kind of spiritual awareness that my granddaughter has physically. When we see a "snaky" area, we should stay away from it or turn and go in another direction.
Let me clarify what I mean. Those "snaky" areas are areas of temptation where the devil would like to deceive us through or entice us into partaking in order to destroy us. Eve was in a "snaky" area- in the presence of the tempter. She should have turned and gone from that spot instead of staying there and engaging in conversation with the "serpent". The end result-- she was "bitten" by his lies and disobeyed God.
We don't have to fear the devil. We have power over his powers through Jesus. The greater One lives in us. But that doesn't mean that we should stay where it is obvious that he is. Joseph was in a "snaky" area when being seduced by Potiphar's wife and he ran from that area. When Jesus was in a "snaky" area while in the wilderness, He took out the sword of God's word and "chopped" the serpent up.
We need to watch out for "snaky" areas- those areas of temptation, the snares and traps the enemy has laid for us- and when we see them either pull out our "sword" ready to destroy his lies or look for the way of escape that has been provided for us out of the temptation and take it.
Have a great day. Watch out for those "snaky" areas and stay away from them.
For further reading:
Genesis 3:1-6
1 Corinthians 10:13
Matthew 4:1-10
Luke 10:19
1 John 4:4
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
The other day my granddaughter was over and we were playing with her bouncing ball outside. A couple of times the ball rolled into an area that was around some taller grass. When this happened, she would tell me, "You, get it, that's snaky". We have lots of snakes in our part of the country and evidently her mother has been teaching her to be careful of certain areas around the yard that are grown up with weeds and grass because they are "snaky" areas. (This means that they are good places for snakes to be and hide.)
The Bible refers to satan as a serpent/snake. He likes to "hide" in certain places waiting for us to get within a close enough distance for him to "strike" at us. That being the case, we should have the same kind of spiritual awareness that my granddaughter has physically. When we see a "snaky" area, we should stay away from it or turn and go in another direction.
Let me clarify what I mean. Those "snaky" areas are areas of temptation where the devil would like to deceive us through or entice us into partaking in order to destroy us. Eve was in a "snaky" area- in the presence of the tempter. She should have turned and gone from that spot instead of staying there and engaging in conversation with the "serpent". The end result-- she was "bitten" by his lies and disobeyed God.
We don't have to fear the devil. We have power over his powers through Jesus. The greater One lives in us. But that doesn't mean that we should stay where it is obvious that he is. Joseph was in a "snaky" area when being seduced by Potiphar's wife and he ran from that area. When Jesus was in a "snaky" area while in the wilderness, He took out the sword of God's word and "chopped" the serpent up.
We need to watch out for "snaky" areas- those areas of temptation, the snares and traps the enemy has laid for us- and when we see them either pull out our "sword" ready to destroy his lies or look for the way of escape that has been provided for us out of the temptation and take it.
Have a great day. Watch out for those "snaky" areas and stay away from them.
For further reading:
Genesis 3:1-6
1 Corinthians 10:13
Matthew 4:1-10
Luke 10:19
1 John 4:4
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Monday, April 25, 2011
"Keep It Up"
"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galatians 6:9
There comes a reaping time once we have sown. It is a natural law and a spiritual law. Depending on what you sow will depend on what you reap. There are things that we sow that we reap from immediately, others take a little time before they are reaped, but then some reaping doesn't come until eternity. That is where I want to focus this morning.
I want to encourage you to not grow weary in your walk with the Lord. Don't quit, don't give up. Keep persevering, keep pressing toward the mark, keep following Jesus. I truly believe we are so close to the end of time as we know it- the last of the last days. Since we have come so far and are so close, it is not a time to be getting weary, distracted or side-tracked.
For those who will continue on there is a "crown of righteousness" that is laid up for them in eternity. It is for those who have remained faithful and have not given up. That crown will come, not while we are on this earth, but we will receive it in eternity- once we leave this life.
Even though there are things that we do reap while we are on earth-- blessings, the answer to prayers, etc.-- the greatest reaping will come when we leave this earth-- eternal life, a new name, a crown of righteousness, a pure white robe, and the greatest of all will be when we see our Savior face to face and hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
Have a great day. Don't grow weary or faint because there is an eternal reaping that will make it all worth it. ("He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.- Revelation 21:7)
For further reading:
2 Timothy 4:7,8
Matthew 25:21
Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
There comes a reaping time once we have sown. It is a natural law and a spiritual law. Depending on what you sow will depend on what you reap. There are things that we sow that we reap from immediately, others take a little time before they are reaped, but then some reaping doesn't come until eternity. That is where I want to focus this morning.
I want to encourage you to not grow weary in your walk with the Lord. Don't quit, don't give up. Keep persevering, keep pressing toward the mark, keep following Jesus. I truly believe we are so close to the end of time as we know it- the last of the last days. Since we have come so far and are so close, it is not a time to be getting weary, distracted or side-tracked.
For those who will continue on there is a "crown of righteousness" that is laid up for them in eternity. It is for those who have remained faithful and have not given up. That crown will come, not while we are on this earth, but we will receive it in eternity- once we leave this life.
Even though there are things that we do reap while we are on earth-- blessings, the answer to prayers, etc.-- the greatest reaping will come when we leave this earth-- eternal life, a new name, a crown of righteousness, a pure white robe, and the greatest of all will be when we see our Savior face to face and hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
Have a great day. Don't grow weary or faint because there is an eternal reaping that will make it all worth it. ("He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.- Revelation 21:7)
For further reading:
2 Timothy 4:7,8
Matthew 25:21
Revelation 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5,12,21
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Friday, April 22, 2011
"Empty Tomb"
"And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus." Luke 24:3
What a dark time for the disciples. The one they thought would save them had been crucified and now His body was missing from the tomb. How confused and hopeless they felt. Scriptures even talk about the emotions that were high and the disbelief that was shrouding them. But what appeared to be defeat and a hopeless situation was actually just the opposite.
The fact that the tomb was empty was "a good thing"- though they didn't realize it at first. It meant that victory was achieved. It meant that our salvation was accomplished. It meant that there was now hope and the opportunity for eternal life. What they perceived as hopelessness was instead the greatest victory.
The tomb had to be empty in order for the whole plan of God to redeem mankind to be fulfilled. Often, what we perceive in life as defeat may very well be victory. What looks hopeless may actually be the answer to the situation.
If you are feeling as if there is no hope; if the situation seems overwhelming; if it looks like defeat, remember the empty tomb. Had it not been empty then there truly would have been no hope.
Have a great day. What appears to be hopeless may actually be the avenue of hope.
For further reading:
Luke 24
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
What a dark time for the disciples. The one they thought would save them had been crucified and now His body was missing from the tomb. How confused and hopeless they felt. Scriptures even talk about the emotions that were high and the disbelief that was shrouding them. But what appeared to be defeat and a hopeless situation was actually just the opposite.
The fact that the tomb was empty was "a good thing"- though they didn't realize it at first. It meant that victory was achieved. It meant that our salvation was accomplished. It meant that there was now hope and the opportunity for eternal life. What they perceived as hopelessness was instead the greatest victory.
The tomb had to be empty in order for the whole plan of God to redeem mankind to be fulfilled. Often, what we perceive in life as defeat may very well be victory. What looks hopeless may actually be the answer to the situation.
If you are feeling as if there is no hope; if the situation seems overwhelming; if it looks like defeat, remember the empty tomb. Had it not been empty then there truly would have been no hope.
Have a great day. What appears to be hopeless may actually be the avenue of hope.
For further reading:
Luke 24
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
"Clouds Obey"
"And it is turned round about by his counsels: that they may do whatsoever he commandeth them upon the face of the world in the earth." Job 37:12
This verse is talking about the clouds and how they are led by the Lord and obey His commands. That is pretty amazing when you consider the fact that clouds are nothing more than gases and vapors. They have no shape or form. They have no brain, sense of reasoning or intelligence, yet they know the voice of their Creator and they obey Him when He speaks.
It makes you wonder how a "mindless" vapor that floats through the atmosphere for only a few moments than dissipates is more obedient to the Lord than most of us. We have been given an intelligence, a will and emotions, yet we can be so stubborn and disobedient when it comes to following the Lord's commands. The point I am trying to make is that if anything in God's creation should be quick to obey and follow Him, it should be us. We are the ones who have the privilege of knowing Him, loving Him and having intimacy with Him. We are the ones whose lives have been redeemed from destruction. We are the ones who experience fellowship and communion with the Heavenly Father. We have been received as His children. His Son died for our sins.
Am I making sense this morning? I just thought it was interesting that all of nature obeys the voice of their Creator- even those parts who are nothing more than a vapor with no substance to them, and we who have been created for fellowship with Him fall so short in this area.
There is a song that says- "There ain't no rock gonna sing in my place, as long as I'm alive to glorify His holy name". Well, I am not going to let a cloud obey my Lord above me either. Are you?
Have a great day. Are you living in greater obedience to the Lord than the rest of creation?
For further reading:
Psalm 148:7-14; 19:1; 104:1-3
Luke 19:40
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
This verse is talking about the clouds and how they are led by the Lord and obey His commands. That is pretty amazing when you consider the fact that clouds are nothing more than gases and vapors. They have no shape or form. They have no brain, sense of reasoning or intelligence, yet they know the voice of their Creator and they obey Him when He speaks.
It makes you wonder how a "mindless" vapor that floats through the atmosphere for only a few moments than dissipates is more obedient to the Lord than most of us. We have been given an intelligence, a will and emotions, yet we can be so stubborn and disobedient when it comes to following the Lord's commands. The point I am trying to make is that if anything in God's creation should be quick to obey and follow Him, it should be us. We are the ones who have the privilege of knowing Him, loving Him and having intimacy with Him. We are the ones whose lives have been redeemed from destruction. We are the ones who experience fellowship and communion with the Heavenly Father. We have been received as His children. His Son died for our sins.
Am I making sense this morning? I just thought it was interesting that all of nature obeys the voice of their Creator- even those parts who are nothing more than a vapor with no substance to them, and we who have been created for fellowship with Him fall so short in this area.
There is a song that says- "There ain't no rock gonna sing in my place, as long as I'm alive to glorify His holy name". Well, I am not going to let a cloud obey my Lord above me either. Are you?
Have a great day. Are you living in greater obedience to the Lord than the rest of creation?
For further reading:
Psalm 148:7-14; 19:1; 104:1-3
Luke 19:40
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
"Line of Demarcation"
"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." 2 Corinthians 6:16,17
What is a line of demarcation? There are specific lines of demarcation throughout the world that divide one area, country or region from another. But the more general definition is: The setting or marking of boundaries or limits; a separation; a distinction. A line of demarcation is used as a boundary line to separate one thing from another.
Let's look at this "line of demarcation" in a spiritual sense. There should be a "line of demarcation" between the Christian and those who are "of the world". There should be a distinction and something that separates us from them so that others will know the difference. But nowadays it is often hard to tell who is and who isn't a Christian. Many profess to be but their lifestyles don't back up their profession.
When the Lord gave the Law to the Israelites, He intended for them to obey it as a sign that they were different from the rest of the inhabitants of the land. It was a sign that they were God's people, distinguishing them from those who were not. In the early church the people that the apostles preached to took note that they had been with Jesus- there was something different about them from everyone else.
In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, after they both die the rich man went to hell and Lazarus went into the "bosom of Abraham". In the conversation between the rich man and Abraham we hear these words- "between us and you there is a great gulf fixed." I believe that is a word for us on this side of death as well. There is a "gulf"- a line of demarcation that is between the Christian and the world. On this side is light, on their side is darkness. On this side there is life, on their side is death. On this side there is hope, on their side there is turmoil. On this side we are the children of God, on their side only enemies of His. On this side we have obtained forgiveness, on their side they are still in trespasses and sin. On this side, we have the Fruit of the Spirit, on their side only the fruits of the flesh.
The Bible tells us that we are the light of the world. There is a distinction between light and dark- a dividing line that separates the two. What I am saying is that there should be something different about us who profess to be Christians that distinguishes us from everyone else. That difference is Christ in us living His life through us.
Have a great day. Is there a "line of demarcation" in your life that backs up what you profess?
For further reading:
Acts 4:13
Matthew 5:14
Galatians 2:20
2 Corinthians 5:17
Luke 16:25-27
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
What is a line of demarcation? There are specific lines of demarcation throughout the world that divide one area, country or region from another. But the more general definition is: The setting or marking of boundaries or limits; a separation; a distinction. A line of demarcation is used as a boundary line to separate one thing from another.
Let's look at this "line of demarcation" in a spiritual sense. There should be a "line of demarcation" between the Christian and those who are "of the world". There should be a distinction and something that separates us from them so that others will know the difference. But nowadays it is often hard to tell who is and who isn't a Christian. Many profess to be but their lifestyles don't back up their profession.
When the Lord gave the Law to the Israelites, He intended for them to obey it as a sign that they were different from the rest of the inhabitants of the land. It was a sign that they were God's people, distinguishing them from those who were not. In the early church the people that the apostles preached to took note that they had been with Jesus- there was something different about them from everyone else.
In the story of Lazarus and the rich man, after they both die the rich man went to hell and Lazarus went into the "bosom of Abraham". In the conversation between the rich man and Abraham we hear these words- "between us and you there is a great gulf fixed." I believe that is a word for us on this side of death as well. There is a "gulf"- a line of demarcation that is between the Christian and the world. On this side is light, on their side is darkness. On this side there is life, on their side is death. On this side there is hope, on their side there is turmoil. On this side we are the children of God, on their side only enemies of His. On this side we have obtained forgiveness, on their side they are still in trespasses and sin. On this side, we have the Fruit of the Spirit, on their side only the fruits of the flesh.
The Bible tells us that we are the light of the world. There is a distinction between light and dark- a dividing line that separates the two. What I am saying is that there should be something different about us who profess to be Christians that distinguishes us from everyone else. That difference is Christ in us living His life through us.
Have a great day. Is there a "line of demarcation" in your life that backs up what you profess?
For further reading:
Acts 4:13
Matthew 5:14
Galatians 2:20
2 Corinthians 5:17
Luke 16:25-27
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
"Finish The Race"
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
In the Bible our Christian walk is compared to many things. Paul compared it to a race. We get in this race through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Sadly, many who come to Christ think that once they have prayed "the sinner's prayer" that is all it is to it. That is so wrong. If it is a "race", then it has to be ran. Runners don't sit on the sidelines. They don't preoccupy themselves with other things. They run, and they run well with the finish line and prize in mind.
Getting in the race is important, but finishing it is just as important. Only those who finish will win the prize, and you can't finish it if you sit down and do nothing. Just because you start the race doesn't mean that you will automatically finish it. There is something that you have to do if you are going to reach the finish line.
1) You are going to have to stay in the race- you can't give up just because it gets tough and you become tired and weary.
2) You are going to have to keep your eyes on the finish line. If you are looking at the things around you it will distract you. Distractions will cause you to go in another direction.
3) Remember the prize. You aren't running in vain, there is a prize that awaits you. And this prize is not just given to the one who crosses the finish line first. It is given to all those who finish this race.
4) Don't get discouraged. You may feel like you aren't making any progress and should be further along in the race, you may feel like you will never reach the end, you may begin to wonder if it is worth it. You will get there if you persevere and it will be worth it.
5) Take notice of how you are running the race. You can't run it all over the course and think that you will wind up on the finish line. You must run it well. You must stay focused. You must keep up the pace. You can't keep stopping and starting. You can't decide to run for a while and quit, run for a while and quit. Stay consistent.
Do you need to check your "pace"? Do you need to take a look at the way you are running? Are you still running the race or have you let distractions come in and take you off course? Have you quit altogether? You have to start the race to get in it, but finishing it is the goal.
Have a great day. Start the race, run well, finish the race then receive the prize.
For further reading:
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Hebrews 12:1-3
Galatians 6:9
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
In the Bible our Christian walk is compared to many things. Paul compared it to a race. We get in this race through acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Sadly, many who come to Christ think that once they have prayed "the sinner's prayer" that is all it is to it. That is so wrong. If it is a "race", then it has to be ran. Runners don't sit on the sidelines. They don't preoccupy themselves with other things. They run, and they run well with the finish line and prize in mind.
Getting in the race is important, but finishing it is just as important. Only those who finish will win the prize, and you can't finish it if you sit down and do nothing. Just because you start the race doesn't mean that you will automatically finish it. There is something that you have to do if you are going to reach the finish line.
1) You are going to have to stay in the race- you can't give up just because it gets tough and you become tired and weary.
2) You are going to have to keep your eyes on the finish line. If you are looking at the things around you it will distract you. Distractions will cause you to go in another direction.
3) Remember the prize. You aren't running in vain, there is a prize that awaits you. And this prize is not just given to the one who crosses the finish line first. It is given to all those who finish this race.
4) Don't get discouraged. You may feel like you aren't making any progress and should be further along in the race, you may feel like you will never reach the end, you may begin to wonder if it is worth it. You will get there if you persevere and it will be worth it.
5) Take notice of how you are running the race. You can't run it all over the course and think that you will wind up on the finish line. You must run it well. You must stay focused. You must keep up the pace. You can't keep stopping and starting. You can't decide to run for a while and quit, run for a while and quit. Stay consistent.
Do you need to check your "pace"? Do you need to take a look at the way you are running? Are you still running the race or have you let distractions come in and take you off course? Have you quit altogether? You have to start the race to get in it, but finishing it is the goal.
Have a great day. Start the race, run well, finish the race then receive the prize.
For further reading:
2 Timothy 4:6-8
Hebrews 12:1-3
Galatians 6:9
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Monday, April 18, 2011
"Seek The Lord"
"And he sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long as he sought the Lord, God made him to prosper." 2 Chronicles 26:5
"...he sought the Lord..." In regard to the Lord, what are you seeking? So many are more involved in seeking what the Lord can do for them instead of seeking Him. They are seeking His blessings, His provisions and His benefits. But very few are just seeking Him- seeking to know Him, seeking to please Him, seeking to have a closer relationship with Him.
I understand that there are times when we have to seek the Lord because of a situation that we find ourselves in and need an answer from Him or His guidance. But for the most part, we have it "backwards". We tend to seek more after what He can give us and do for us; we seek His hand and what's in it; we seek after the tangible things that come from Him; but if we would seek HIM- then all these things (the things that we truly need) will be added to us.... without having to "seek" after them. They would come as a result from seeking Him first.
Ask yourself this morning, "What am I seeking?" Are you seeking the blessings or the giver of the blessings? Are you more interested in seeking what He can do for you instead of He Himself? Are you seeking after the things that He gives or to know who He is? Are you seeking Him for His gifts or just because of who He is?
Have a great day. Are you seeking the things that God gives, or are you seeking the God who gives good things?
For further reading:
Psalm 34:4
Deuteronomy 4:29
1 Chronicles 16:10,11
2 Chronicles 15:12
Acts 17:27
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
"...he sought the Lord..." In regard to the Lord, what are you seeking? So many are more involved in seeking what the Lord can do for them instead of seeking Him. They are seeking His blessings, His provisions and His benefits. But very few are just seeking Him- seeking to know Him, seeking to please Him, seeking to have a closer relationship with Him.
I understand that there are times when we have to seek the Lord because of a situation that we find ourselves in and need an answer from Him or His guidance. But for the most part, we have it "backwards". We tend to seek more after what He can give us and do for us; we seek His hand and what's in it; we seek after the tangible things that come from Him; but if we would seek HIM- then all these things (the things that we truly need) will be added to us.... without having to "seek" after them. They would come as a result from seeking Him first.
Ask yourself this morning, "What am I seeking?" Are you seeking the blessings or the giver of the blessings? Are you more interested in seeking what He can do for you instead of He Himself? Are you seeking after the things that He gives or to know who He is? Are you seeking Him for His gifts or just because of who He is?
Have a great day. Are you seeking the things that God gives, or are you seeking the God who gives good things?
For further reading:
Psalm 34:4
Deuteronomy 4:29
1 Chronicles 16:10,11
2 Chronicles 15:12
Acts 17:27
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Friday, April 15, 2011
"Available"
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me." Isaiah 6:8
There are so many people in need. They are all around us- you don't have to look very far to find them. Even with so many needs there isn't one need of one person that the Lord doesn't want to reach. He loves people and He cares about them. He desires to reach into the needs of hurting humanity. And He has chosen to do so through His people. We are His hands extended. We are His mouthpiece. We are His legs to carry His message into the world. He could reach people without us, but He has chosen to do it through us. That being the case, when was the last time you made yourself available to be the vessel that He can reach someone else through?
You may say, "I can't travel to the other side of the world and be a missionary". True, you may not can, but are you available to be a "missionary" to the lady who checks you out at the grocery store, or another mother whose child is on the same soccer team as your child, or to the mechanic who services your car?
You may say, "I am not qualified." Do you know Jesus as Savior and Lord? Has He changed your life and forgiven your sins? Then you are qualified. You don't have to have a religious title to tell someone about Jesus. You don't have to have a doctorate in order to reach out to them. He uses "weak and foolish things" - so that pretty much qualifies the rest of us.
You may say, "I don't know how to talk to them". You can tell them what the Lord has done for you. Moses didn't know how to talk but God used him anyway. Just make your voice available to Him and He will give you what to say.
You may say, "I have nothing to give." Can you give a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty? Can you offer up a prayer for someone? Can you give a hug to someone who is hurting and tell them that Jesus loves them and that He cares?
We make so many excuses why we can't make ourselves available to the Lord to reach this lost and dying world. Where would we be if He had not made Himself available for the Father to use to save us from our sins and give us eternal life?
Have a great day. When was the last time you made yourself available for the Lord to use?
For further reading:
1 Corinthians 1:26-28
Matthew 10:42; 5:16
Exodus 4:10
Romans 10:14
Ephesians 2:10
Acts 1:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
There are so many people in need. They are all around us- you don't have to look very far to find them. Even with so many needs there isn't one need of one person that the Lord doesn't want to reach. He loves people and He cares about them. He desires to reach into the needs of hurting humanity. And He has chosen to do so through His people. We are His hands extended. We are His mouthpiece. We are His legs to carry His message into the world. He could reach people without us, but He has chosen to do it through us. That being the case, when was the last time you made yourself available to be the vessel that He can reach someone else through?
You may say, "I can't travel to the other side of the world and be a missionary". True, you may not can, but are you available to be a "missionary" to the lady who checks you out at the grocery store, or another mother whose child is on the same soccer team as your child, or to the mechanic who services your car?
You may say, "I am not qualified." Do you know Jesus as Savior and Lord? Has He changed your life and forgiven your sins? Then you are qualified. You don't have to have a religious title to tell someone about Jesus. You don't have to have a doctorate in order to reach out to them. He uses "weak and foolish things" - so that pretty much qualifies the rest of us.
You may say, "I don't know how to talk to them". You can tell them what the Lord has done for you. Moses didn't know how to talk but God used him anyway. Just make your voice available to Him and He will give you what to say.
You may say, "I have nothing to give." Can you give a cup of cold water to someone who is thirsty? Can you offer up a prayer for someone? Can you give a hug to someone who is hurting and tell them that Jesus loves them and that He cares?
We make so many excuses why we can't make ourselves available to the Lord to reach this lost and dying world. Where would we be if He had not made Himself available for the Father to use to save us from our sins and give us eternal life?
Have a great day. When was the last time you made yourself available for the Lord to use?
For further reading:
1 Corinthians 1:26-28
Matthew 10:42; 5:16
Exodus 4:10
Romans 10:14
Ephesians 2:10
Acts 1:8
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
"Recharge Your Battery"
"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward." Isaiah 58:8
This verse is in the middle of what some call the "fasting chapter". It tells us some of the benefits that comes from fasting. There are benefits to fasting- fasting from food, from television, from other forms of entertainment, from personal desires and pleasures and spending that time on things that build up the spirit man instead.
Jesus said, "When you fast"- not "if" you fast. Therefore, it has a place in the Christian life because it is important to our spiritual walk and growth. There are various reasons why we fast. Without doing my "alms" before you I want to share something about fasting that the Lord showed me.
The other day I felt that I should fast. Usually I will do it if it has been a while since I have, or if I am going to be ministering somewhere to help prepare myself, or if there is some need I have, or if I need to hear from the Lord in a matter. The other day none of the above was going on, yet I felt I should. This is the reason the Lord gave me-- I needed to "recharge my 'spiritual' battery" before it ran down. Fasting does "recharge" us- it gets us more focused on spiritual things and off of earthly things. It denies the flesh giving the spirit an opportunity to build us up. So sometimes we do it just for the sake of a "spiritual recharging".
If a battery runs down it causes a lot of problems- it can leave you stranded, in the cold, in the dark, without communication and so on. Once it is "dead" it takes a lot more time and effort to get it recharged so that it is usable again. On the other hand, if you keep the battery charged up- through recharging it regularly- it will always be ready to use whenever the situation arises or you desire to put it to use.
The same thing happens to us spiritually. When we get spiritually run down, we become weak, powerless, our lights get dim and we are less useful. At that point it takes extra time to just get us back to where we were. But if we stay "charged" up, not waiting until we have lost our spiritual "power", we are able to hear the voice of the Lord more clearly, move at a moments notice taking advantage of the opportunity that is presented to us, and our lights shine brightly.
The whole point of what I am saying this morning is that we need to do whatever we have to do in order to keep our "spiritual batteries" constantly charged and not let them run down. That may mean fasting, getting alone in a quiet place, getting up a little earlier to spend time in the Lord's presence, turning off the television and spending that time in Bible reading. There are many ways that help recharge our spiritual batteries and we need to do them while there is still a "charge" left in them, not after they have completely "died".
Have a great day. It is a whole lot easier to keep a battery charged up than it is to let it run down and then have to recharge it.
For further reading:
Isaiah 58
Matthew 6:16
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
This verse is in the middle of what some call the "fasting chapter". It tells us some of the benefits that comes from fasting. There are benefits to fasting- fasting from food, from television, from other forms of entertainment, from personal desires and pleasures and spending that time on things that build up the spirit man instead.
Jesus said, "When you fast"- not "if" you fast. Therefore, it has a place in the Christian life because it is important to our spiritual walk and growth. There are various reasons why we fast. Without doing my "alms" before you I want to share something about fasting that the Lord showed me.
The other day I felt that I should fast. Usually I will do it if it has been a while since I have, or if I am going to be ministering somewhere to help prepare myself, or if there is some need I have, or if I need to hear from the Lord in a matter. The other day none of the above was going on, yet I felt I should. This is the reason the Lord gave me-- I needed to "recharge my 'spiritual' battery" before it ran down. Fasting does "recharge" us- it gets us more focused on spiritual things and off of earthly things. It denies the flesh giving the spirit an opportunity to build us up. So sometimes we do it just for the sake of a "spiritual recharging".
If a battery runs down it causes a lot of problems- it can leave you stranded, in the cold, in the dark, without communication and so on. Once it is "dead" it takes a lot more time and effort to get it recharged so that it is usable again. On the other hand, if you keep the battery charged up- through recharging it regularly- it will always be ready to use whenever the situation arises or you desire to put it to use.
The same thing happens to us spiritually. When we get spiritually run down, we become weak, powerless, our lights get dim and we are less useful. At that point it takes extra time to just get us back to where we were. But if we stay "charged" up, not waiting until we have lost our spiritual "power", we are able to hear the voice of the Lord more clearly, move at a moments notice taking advantage of the opportunity that is presented to us, and our lights shine brightly.
The whole point of what I am saying this morning is that we need to do whatever we have to do in order to keep our "spiritual batteries" constantly charged and not let them run down. That may mean fasting, getting alone in a quiet place, getting up a little earlier to spend time in the Lord's presence, turning off the television and spending that time in Bible reading. There are many ways that help recharge our spiritual batteries and we need to do them while there is still a "charge" left in them, not after they have completely "died".
Have a great day. It is a whole lot easier to keep a battery charged up than it is to let it run down and then have to recharge it.
For further reading:
Isaiah 58
Matthew 6:16
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
"Fear or Peace?"
"Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." Luke 21:26
When you read this verse in context, the state of the world looks pretty ominous. It must truly be bad for men's hearts to be "failing" them out of fear, and that fear is the result of the conditions that are taking place in the world. I have been afraid before but never to the point where my heart fails.
So what are those conditions? Wars, famine, persecution, seas and waves roaring, earthquakes and other natural disasters, economic collapse- pretty much what we are beginning to see happen in the world around us, only it will be on a much larger scale. Many people are beginning to experience the fear that brings "heart failure" even now.
This morning I want to bring you a word of encouragement- this is written to those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ making Him their Savior and Lord. That word is- "Do Not Fear". We have nothing to fear. I didn't say we won't face or go through fearful times, I said that we don't have to be afraid when they come. We have a shelter, a place of refuge, it is called the "secret place of the Most High". The Lord is our refuge. He is our strong tower that we can run into and find safety. He is our shelter in the time of storm. He is our "Goshen". He is our "Ark". We have nothing to fear even in the midst of fear because He is with us, His rod and His staff comforts us. He knows how to deliver us from every evil work and preserve us unto His heavenly kingdom.
For the rest of the people- those who don't know Jesus as Savior and Lord- they shall continue to fear because they have no peace abiding in them. This is because they don't have the Prince of Peace living and dwelling in their lives. How hopeless! Yes, but not necessarily. That can change, they can invite this wonderful Jesus into their lives to be their Savior, to make Him their Lord and when He comes into their lives, He will give them His peace. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) Then His peace will establish their minds and their "hearts". And when His peace establishes their hearts, their hearts will not fail because of fear.
Have a great day. The conditions around us may be fearful, but there is no need to fear if you have placed your life in the hands of the Prince of Peace.
For further reading:
Proverbs 18:10
2 Timothy 4:18
Psalm 91; 23:4
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
When you read this verse in context, the state of the world looks pretty ominous. It must truly be bad for men's hearts to be "failing" them out of fear, and that fear is the result of the conditions that are taking place in the world. I have been afraid before but never to the point where my heart fails.
So what are those conditions? Wars, famine, persecution, seas and waves roaring, earthquakes and other natural disasters, economic collapse- pretty much what we are beginning to see happen in the world around us, only it will be on a much larger scale. Many people are beginning to experience the fear that brings "heart failure" even now.
This morning I want to bring you a word of encouragement- this is written to those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ making Him their Savior and Lord. That word is- "Do Not Fear". We have nothing to fear. I didn't say we won't face or go through fearful times, I said that we don't have to be afraid when they come. We have a shelter, a place of refuge, it is called the "secret place of the Most High". The Lord is our refuge. He is our strong tower that we can run into and find safety. He is our shelter in the time of storm. He is our "Goshen". He is our "Ark". We have nothing to fear even in the midst of fear because He is with us, His rod and His staff comforts us. He knows how to deliver us from every evil work and preserve us unto His heavenly kingdom.
For the rest of the people- those who don't know Jesus as Savior and Lord- they shall continue to fear because they have no peace abiding in them. This is because they don't have the Prince of Peace living and dwelling in their lives. How hopeless! Yes, but not necessarily. That can change, they can invite this wonderful Jesus into their lives to be their Savior, to make Him their Lord and when He comes into their lives, He will give them His peace. "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27) Then His peace will establish their minds and their "hearts". And when His peace establishes their hearts, their hearts will not fail because of fear.
Have a great day. The conditions around us may be fearful, but there is no need to fear if you have placed your life in the hands of the Prince of Peace.
For further reading:
Proverbs 18:10
2 Timothy 4:18
Psalm 91; 23:4
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
"Trying To Hear - part 2"
"And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." Mark 4:18,19
Yesterday we talked about a very common phrase that we use- "God is trying to tell us something.". We said that this leaves you with the impression that God has a hard time articulating what He wants to say and that He struggles with being able to communicate His message to us. Of course, that isn't true, God never has a hard time communicating- He speaks very clearly and is easily understood. What we should say instead is that it is "us who are 'trying' to hear what He is saying"- not Him trying to say it.
We also said that one of the main reasons why we don't always understand what He is saying is because we are being distracted- the distractions take our full attention away from our "listening". This morning I want to talk a little more about what some of those distractions are.
The verse above clearly lets us know that the "cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things" will "choke the word" (choke out what is said)- in other words, these things will hinder us from hearing Him. There are other things that hinder as well, and they come from without and within. We already know that too much television and too much time spent in other forms of entertainment will distract us, but there are other things such as our culture, society and education that will hinder us from hearing what the Lord is saying. When God speaks, everything He says has a "Kingdom perspective" to it- His Kingdom. His Kingdom and this world often clash with each other. For example, His Kingdom teaches that we are to "forgive those who trespass against us". Our culture, society and intellect tell us to "get revenge or hold a grudge". So when He is telling us to forgive that person that hurt us, we have a hard time hearing that because we are distracted by what these others teach us. (In this example, we are also distracted from hearing by our own pain and hurt that was inflected upon us by that person.) To sum it up- when our culture tells us one thing, when society says one thing, when our intellect says one thing, and God says something that is in opposition to what they are saying, we have a hard time hearing because we are so influenced in our way of thinking by them.
Our own agenda often distracts us from hearing what the Lord is saying to us. We have our own plans laid out and when He speaks to us in a contrary manner- like when He says that our plan is not His plan for us- then what we want often overshadows what He is saying. Our own determination to do something, our rebellion, our own desires, all make it hard to hear what He is saying.
What is distracting you? What are the "cares of this life" that are choking out His voice/word? What influences you other than Him, making it hard to hear Him above them? Until we deal with the distractions we are always going to be "trying to hear".
Have a great day. The Lord speaks plainly but distractions will distort His voice.
For further reading:
Luke 11:2
Isaiah 28:12
Acts 7:29-32
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Yesterday we talked about a very common phrase that we use- "God is trying to tell us something.". We said that this leaves you with the impression that God has a hard time articulating what He wants to say and that He struggles with being able to communicate His message to us. Of course, that isn't true, God never has a hard time communicating- He speaks very clearly and is easily understood. What we should say instead is that it is "us who are 'trying' to hear what He is saying"- not Him trying to say it.
We also said that one of the main reasons why we don't always understand what He is saying is because we are being distracted- the distractions take our full attention away from our "listening". This morning I want to talk a little more about what some of those distractions are.
The verse above clearly lets us know that the "cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches and the lusts of other things" will "choke the word" (choke out what is said)- in other words, these things will hinder us from hearing Him. There are other things that hinder as well, and they come from without and within. We already know that too much television and too much time spent in other forms of entertainment will distract us, but there are other things such as our culture, society and education that will hinder us from hearing what the Lord is saying. When God speaks, everything He says has a "Kingdom perspective" to it- His Kingdom. His Kingdom and this world often clash with each other. For example, His Kingdom teaches that we are to "forgive those who trespass against us". Our culture, society and intellect tell us to "get revenge or hold a grudge". So when He is telling us to forgive that person that hurt us, we have a hard time hearing that because we are distracted by what these others teach us. (In this example, we are also distracted from hearing by our own pain and hurt that was inflected upon us by that person.) To sum it up- when our culture tells us one thing, when society says one thing, when our intellect says one thing, and God says something that is in opposition to what they are saying, we have a hard time hearing because we are so influenced in our way of thinking by them.
Our own agenda often distracts us from hearing what the Lord is saying to us. We have our own plans laid out and when He speaks to us in a contrary manner- like when He says that our plan is not His plan for us- then what we want often overshadows what He is saying. Our own determination to do something, our rebellion, our own desires, all make it hard to hear what He is saying.
What is distracting you? What are the "cares of this life" that are choking out His voice/word? What influences you other than Him, making it hard to hear Him above them? Until we deal with the distractions we are always going to be "trying to hear".
Have a great day. The Lord speaks plainly but distractions will distort His voice.
For further reading:
Luke 11:2
Isaiah 28:12
Acts 7:29-32
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Monday, April 11, 2011
"Trying To Hear"
"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks." Acts 9:5
How many times have you said, or heard someone else say, "The Lord is trying to tell us something."? I have been guilty of saying it. It almost conjures up the idea that God is having a hard time saying something- that is never true. It is not, "God is trying" to say something, instead we should be saying, "We are trying to hear what He is saying".
I understand what we mean when we say that, but the truth is that God never has to "try" to say anything, He just comes right out and says it. He doesn't have a hard time communicating or articulating His words or their meaning. When He wants to speak to us or get a message across to us, He knows just how to say it and He speaks plainly. Look in the Bible, every time God spoke to the people He spoke plainly and didn't "try" to give the message to them. He spoke plainly to Moses out of the burning bush. When Balaam was going to curse God's people, God spoke very clearly to him not to do it. When Saul encountered Him on the road to Damascus, He didn't try to tell Saul something, He spoke so clearly that immediately Saul repented of what he was doing and turned to wholeheartedly follow Jesus. The Lord spoke to David at Ziklag to pursue the enemy and take back what was stolen from him. He spoke clearly to the prophets-- He didn't "try" to tell them what He wanted to tell them.
Like I said earlier, we are the ones who are "trying to hear" what He is saying. For some reason we make it so difficult when really it isn't hard to hear. Jesus told us that His sheep would hear His voice. When we read His word, we are hearing Him speak, and speak plainly. For example, how much plainer can He get we He says, "Love you enemies, or do not commit adultery"?
He biggest hindrance to us hearing is called-- distraction. I can remember when I was growing up, if I was watching television and my mother came in and told me something, most of the time I would not hear what she said. It wasn't because she wasn't saying something I didn't understand (I knew what she meant when she said, "Go clean up your room."?). But the television had my attention so I was not fully listening to what she was saying. I believe this (distraction in various forms) is what hinders us and keeps us "trying" to figure out what God is saying.
God has always spoken plainly. He has never had a hard time or struggled with what to say, how to say it or how to get the message across. It is us who are having the hard time hearing, but that is because we are either not listening or not listening attentively.
Have a great day. God is not having to try to tell us something, we are having a hard time trying to listen to what He is saying.
For further reading:
John 1:37;10:16;27
Revelation 3:20
Mark 12:37
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
How many times have you said, or heard someone else say, "The Lord is trying to tell us something."? I have been guilty of saying it. It almost conjures up the idea that God is having a hard time saying something- that is never true. It is not, "God is trying" to say something, instead we should be saying, "We are trying to hear what He is saying".
I understand what we mean when we say that, but the truth is that God never has to "try" to say anything, He just comes right out and says it. He doesn't have a hard time communicating or articulating His words or their meaning. When He wants to speak to us or get a message across to us, He knows just how to say it and He speaks plainly. Look in the Bible, every time God spoke to the people He spoke plainly and didn't "try" to give the message to them. He spoke plainly to Moses out of the burning bush. When Balaam was going to curse God's people, God spoke very clearly to him not to do it. When Saul encountered Him on the road to Damascus, He didn't try to tell Saul something, He spoke so clearly that immediately Saul repented of what he was doing and turned to wholeheartedly follow Jesus. The Lord spoke to David at Ziklag to pursue the enemy and take back what was stolen from him. He spoke clearly to the prophets-- He didn't "try" to tell them what He wanted to tell them.
Like I said earlier, we are the ones who are "trying to hear" what He is saying. For some reason we make it so difficult when really it isn't hard to hear. Jesus told us that His sheep would hear His voice. When we read His word, we are hearing Him speak, and speak plainly. For example, how much plainer can He get we He says, "Love you enemies, or do not commit adultery"?
He biggest hindrance to us hearing is called-- distraction. I can remember when I was growing up, if I was watching television and my mother came in and told me something, most of the time I would not hear what she said. It wasn't because she wasn't saying something I didn't understand (I knew what she meant when she said, "Go clean up your room."?). But the television had my attention so I was not fully listening to what she was saying. I believe this (distraction in various forms) is what hinders us and keeps us "trying" to figure out what God is saying.
God has always spoken plainly. He has never had a hard time or struggled with what to say, how to say it or how to get the message across. It is us who are having the hard time hearing, but that is because we are either not listening or not listening attentively.
Have a great day. God is not having to try to tell us something, we are having a hard time trying to listen to what He is saying.
For further reading:
John 1:37;10:16;27
Revelation 3:20
Mark 12:37
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Friday, April 8, 2011
"Ducks- Part 2"
"And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes..." Malachi 3:11a
Yesterday I shared my story about the mama duck and her ducklings that were at my house and how this mother duck led her babies by continually quacking for them to follow her. That mother duck loved her babies and was trying to keep them from harm so she stayed in constant communication with them leading them in the right direction. It was such a beautiful illustration and example of how our Heavenly Father leads us by His voice. His loves us, therefore, He speaks to us and if we will follow Him it will be well with us.
I also told you that as I was following them trying to get a picture of this amazing sight, I turned the corner of the house heading into the side yard and all of a sudden a hawk swooped down and then ascended back up right in front of me- so close it almost hit me. He was after that one little ducking that was lagging behind. Had I not been there, it would have surely got the baby.
I want to share another spiritual parallel this morning from my encounter with these beautiful creatures. That hawk is a bird of prey. It goes around looking for something to destroy and consume. It would have surely devoured that duckling had I not been there. That duckling was no match for the hawk. My presence scared it off because the hawk is no match for me. My presence into the situation came at just the right time- when the hawk was making his descent to latch hold of the duckling.
We have a very real enemy who goes about seeking whom he may devour- like a bird of prey. He has one goal and that is to steal, kill and destroy. But we have a Heavenly Father who is watching over us. We are no match for this enemy, but he is no match for God. This hawk was much bigger than the duckling, but he was not bigger than me. The enemy, though he often appears much larger than we are is not bigger than God. Our Father intervenes in the situations that we get in and He delivers us from the devourer. He comes in and fights our battles for us.
That hawk just knew he had that duckling, but I came up unexpected and foiled his plans. Our God will foil the plans of the enemy against us. He will come in at an unexpected moment but always right on time. So this morning, do not fear the devourer. Your Heavenly Father is watching over you. He promised to not only lead us by His voice but to protect us and deliver us from the devourer.
Have a great day. Our Father is watching over us. He is our deliverer from the enemy who would try to destroy us.
For further reading:
Isaiah 59:19
Deut. 3:22; 20:4
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Yesterday I shared my story about the mama duck and her ducklings that were at my house and how this mother duck led her babies by continually quacking for them to follow her. That mother duck loved her babies and was trying to keep them from harm so she stayed in constant communication with them leading them in the right direction. It was such a beautiful illustration and example of how our Heavenly Father leads us by His voice. His loves us, therefore, He speaks to us and if we will follow Him it will be well with us.
I also told you that as I was following them trying to get a picture of this amazing sight, I turned the corner of the house heading into the side yard and all of a sudden a hawk swooped down and then ascended back up right in front of me- so close it almost hit me. He was after that one little ducking that was lagging behind. Had I not been there, it would have surely got the baby.
I want to share another spiritual parallel this morning from my encounter with these beautiful creatures. That hawk is a bird of prey. It goes around looking for something to destroy and consume. It would have surely devoured that duckling had I not been there. That duckling was no match for the hawk. My presence scared it off because the hawk is no match for me. My presence into the situation came at just the right time- when the hawk was making his descent to latch hold of the duckling.
We have a very real enemy who goes about seeking whom he may devour- like a bird of prey. He has one goal and that is to steal, kill and destroy. But we have a Heavenly Father who is watching over us. We are no match for this enemy, but he is no match for God. This hawk was much bigger than the duckling, but he was not bigger than me. The enemy, though he often appears much larger than we are is not bigger than God. Our Father intervenes in the situations that we get in and He delivers us from the devourer. He comes in and fights our battles for us.
That hawk just knew he had that duckling, but I came up unexpected and foiled his plans. Our God will foil the plans of the enemy against us. He will come in at an unexpected moment but always right on time. So this morning, do not fear the devourer. Your Heavenly Father is watching over you. He promised to not only lead us by His voice but to protect us and deliver us from the devourer.
Have a great day. Our Father is watching over us. He is our deliverer from the enemy who would try to destroy us.
For further reading:
Isaiah 59:19
Deut. 3:22; 20:4
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
"Ducks"
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27
The other day I went outside and as I stepped off of the carport I heard a noise to my right so I looked that direction and to my amazement I saw a duck coming off my patio and she was being followed by thirteen baby ducklings. The noise that I heard was the mother's quaking sound that was leading her babies. As soon as the mother saw me, she immediately turned around and headed back to the patio with non-stop quacking-- she was "calling" her babies to follow her. I ran into the house to get my camera and as I got to the sunroom I saw them going around the back of the house- so I went out and then followed them with my camera. Just as I started to turn the corner at the back of the house and follow them into the side yard, a big hawk swooped down and then back up right in front of me- it was so close he almost flew into me. He had his eyes on those babies and had I not been there and startled him, he would have surely got the scragglier. The mama duck and her babies continued on until they found a dense bush to hide under.
The thing that stuck out the most to me about the whole scene was that while I was following them and they were trying to find shelter, the mother never stopped quacking as she led them. She "talked" to her babies the entire time I was following them. They were following her voice. They weren't leading the way, they were following. They weren't following by sight, but by the sound of her voice. They followed and went in the same direction she did. The ducklings knew this was the voice of their mother and while they didn't know where they were going or how to get there, they just kept following her voice and heading in that direction.
I am trying not to be too lengthy but I wanted to share this because it paints such a beautiful picture of how the Lord leads us-- He does it through His voice. His voice speaks to us in a small still form, through His written word, by His Spirit and sometimes through others.
We want to follow the Lord by sight. But that is not the way He leads us. He leads us by His voice. What makes sheep follow the shepherd? They know his voice so when they hear it they follow him. What made these ducklings follow their mother? They knew her voice, listened for it and followed her. What will make us follow in the direction the Lord is desiring to lead us? Knowing His voice and listening for it.
Have a great day. He leads us by His voice and when we hear it, we should go in that direction.
For further reading:
2 Corinthians 5:7
John 10:1-16
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
The other day I went outside and as I stepped off of the carport I heard a noise to my right so I looked that direction and to my amazement I saw a duck coming off my patio and she was being followed by thirteen baby ducklings. The noise that I heard was the mother's quaking sound that was leading her babies. As soon as the mother saw me, she immediately turned around and headed back to the patio with non-stop quacking-- she was "calling" her babies to follow her. I ran into the house to get my camera and as I got to the sunroom I saw them going around the back of the house- so I went out and then followed them with my camera. Just as I started to turn the corner at the back of the house and follow them into the side yard, a big hawk swooped down and then back up right in front of me- it was so close he almost flew into me. He had his eyes on those babies and had I not been there and startled him, he would have surely got the scragglier. The mama duck and her babies continued on until they found a dense bush to hide under.
The thing that stuck out the most to me about the whole scene was that while I was following them and they were trying to find shelter, the mother never stopped quacking as she led them. She "talked" to her babies the entire time I was following them. They were following her voice. They weren't leading the way, they were following. They weren't following by sight, but by the sound of her voice. They followed and went in the same direction she did. The ducklings knew this was the voice of their mother and while they didn't know where they were going or how to get there, they just kept following her voice and heading in that direction.
I am trying not to be too lengthy but I wanted to share this because it paints such a beautiful picture of how the Lord leads us-- He does it through His voice. His voice speaks to us in a small still form, through His written word, by His Spirit and sometimes through others.
We want to follow the Lord by sight. But that is not the way He leads us. He leads us by His voice. What makes sheep follow the shepherd? They know his voice so when they hear it they follow him. What made these ducklings follow their mother? They knew her voice, listened for it and followed her. What will make us follow in the direction the Lord is desiring to lead us? Knowing His voice and listening for it.
Have a great day. He leads us by His voice and when we hear it, we should go in that direction.
For further reading:
2 Corinthians 5:7
John 10:1-16
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
"This Isn't Right - part 2"
"I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee." Luke 15:18
Yesterday I gave you my translation of what the prodigal son was saying when he finally came to his senses while in the pigpen and decided to go home. He realized that "this wasn't right" for him to be sitting in the pigpen starving when he was his father's son and should be living in his father's house.
We discussed that as Christians having some things in our lives just "isn't right". As a matter of fact, it is just "wrong" for us to be (or call ourselves) Christians and be living in adultery, involved in homosexuality, rude and unkind, drunks, thieves, hateful, proud, unforgiving, liars, cheating, cursing people out, and so on. If these things are in our lives, then we are living in the "pigpen of sin".
After having discussed that "this isn't right" for a Christian to be practicing sin, let's now look at what "is right". As His children we are to be "imitators" of God. Our lives should reflect and represent who our Father is. What would that be like? What type of character, attitude and lifestyle would be right for a Christian to possess? It's called the Fruit of the Spirit. The right character for a Christian is love- not hate; joy- not depression; peace- not confusion; gentleness- not rudeness; goodness- not mean tempered; meekness- not pride or arrogance; faith- not fear and condemnation; longsuffering- not impatience and anxiety; temperance- not self indulgence.
If you are a Christian, is what's in your life "right" or "wrong"? If it is wrong (and that would be because you are living in sin or doing sinful things) then there is only one way out of it. The prodigal son showed us the way out of the "pigpen"- it comes through repentance, then drawing near to the Father, and staying near the Father.
Have a great day. There are some things that are just "wrong" for Christians to be doing, but there are some things that are "right" because they are evidence that we are our Heavenly Father's children.
For further reading:
Galatians 5:19-26
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line
Yesterday I gave you my translation of what the prodigal son was saying when he finally came to his senses while in the pigpen and decided to go home. He realized that "this wasn't right" for him to be sitting in the pigpen starving when he was his father's son and should be living in his father's house.
We discussed that as Christians having some things in our lives just "isn't right". As a matter of fact, it is just "wrong" for us to be (or call ourselves) Christians and be living in adultery, involved in homosexuality, rude and unkind, drunks, thieves, hateful, proud, unforgiving, liars, cheating, cursing people out, and so on. If these things are in our lives, then we are living in the "pigpen of sin".
After having discussed that "this isn't right" for a Christian to be practicing sin, let's now look at what "is right". As His children we are to be "imitators" of God. Our lives should reflect and represent who our Father is. What would that be like? What type of character, attitude and lifestyle would be right for a Christian to possess? It's called the Fruit of the Spirit. The right character for a Christian is love- not hate; joy- not depression; peace- not confusion; gentleness- not rudeness; goodness- not mean tempered; meekness- not pride or arrogance; faith- not fear and condemnation; longsuffering- not impatience and anxiety; temperance- not self indulgence.
If you are a Christian, is what's in your life "right" or "wrong"? If it is wrong (and that would be because you are living in sin or doing sinful things) then there is only one way out of it. The prodigal son showed us the way out of the "pigpen"- it comes through repentance, then drawing near to the Father, and staying near the Father.
Have a great day. There are some things that are just "wrong" for Christians to be doing, but there are some things that are "right" because they are evidence that we are our Heavenly Father's children.
For further reading:
Galatians 5:19-26
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
"This Isn't Right"
"And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!" Luke 15:17
Our verse is taken from the story of the prodigal son. At this point he is in the pigpen and starving to death. Finally, he comes to his senses and decides to make a change. Let me give you my "translation" of what he was saying in the verse above. He was saying, "This isn't right, even the servants in my father's house have more it eat than I do. This isn't right, I have all I need at home and I am sitting here in need. This isn't right, I am an heir but I am living worse than a beggar."
I am wondering this morning if you can relate to the young man? Are there things going on in your life to which you can say, "This isn't right!"? As Christians there are things that just "aren't right" for us. They have no place in our lives- yet they may be in our lives. Here are some examples of what I am talking about- some "this isn't right" things.
This isn't right-- for you to be living with unforgiveness.
This isn't right-- for you to be blessing God and cursing men.
This isn't right-- to be living after your own fleshy desires, selfish wants and a self-centered agenda; focused on self.
This isn't right-- that you put what you want before what God wants for you.
This isn't right-- that Christ isn't the center of your life.
This isn't right-- that you are living in adultery and fornication.
This isn't right-- that you are stealing and coveting.
This isn't right-- that you aren't making time for the Lord (in prayer, Bible reading and worship).
This isn't right-- that you are spending everything on yourself and not helping meet the need of those who are hurting.
This isn't right-- that you are not walking in love.
This isn't right-- that you aren't loving God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.
This isn't right-- that you are ignoring God, not listening to His voice, not keeping His commands.
The son in the pigpen came to his senses because he remembered who he was and knew that this was not where he was suppose to be. He remembered that he was his father's son and should be living in his father's house- loving and serving his father. As children of the Lord, we need to stop and look at our lives and do some remembering also. We need to remember who we are and what that means. It means that we are to live close to the Father, love Him, follow Him, serve Him, do those things that please, honor and glorify Him, and don't have any part of those things that don't. When we live our lives in a manner that is contrary to who we are in Him, then nothing is going to be right.
Have a great day. For those who are the children of God, there are some things that just aren't right and should have no place in your life.
For further reading:
Ephesians 5:1-5
Luke 15
James 3:9-11
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Our verse is taken from the story of the prodigal son. At this point he is in the pigpen and starving to death. Finally, he comes to his senses and decides to make a change. Let me give you my "translation" of what he was saying in the verse above. He was saying, "This isn't right, even the servants in my father's house have more it eat than I do. This isn't right, I have all I need at home and I am sitting here in need. This isn't right, I am an heir but I am living worse than a beggar."
I am wondering this morning if you can relate to the young man? Are there things going on in your life to which you can say, "This isn't right!"? As Christians there are things that just "aren't right" for us. They have no place in our lives- yet they may be in our lives. Here are some examples of what I am talking about- some "this isn't right" things.
This isn't right-- for you to be living with unforgiveness.
This isn't right-- for you to be blessing God and cursing men.
This isn't right-- to be living after your own fleshy desires, selfish wants and a self-centered agenda; focused on self.
This isn't right-- that you put what you want before what God wants for you.
This isn't right-- that Christ isn't the center of your life.
This isn't right-- that you are living in adultery and fornication.
This isn't right-- that you are stealing and coveting.
This isn't right-- that you aren't making time for the Lord (in prayer, Bible reading and worship).
This isn't right-- that you are spending everything on yourself and not helping meet the need of those who are hurting.
This isn't right-- that you are not walking in love.
This isn't right-- that you aren't loving God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind.
This isn't right-- that you are ignoring God, not listening to His voice, not keeping His commands.
The son in the pigpen came to his senses because he remembered who he was and knew that this was not where he was suppose to be. He remembered that he was his father's son and should be living in his father's house- loving and serving his father. As children of the Lord, we need to stop and look at our lives and do some remembering also. We need to remember who we are and what that means. It means that we are to live close to the Father, love Him, follow Him, serve Him, do those things that please, honor and glorify Him, and don't have any part of those things that don't. When we live our lives in a manner that is contrary to who we are in Him, then nothing is going to be right.
Have a great day. For those who are the children of God, there are some things that just aren't right and should have no place in your life.
For further reading:
Ephesians 5:1-5
Luke 15
James 3:9-11
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Monday, April 4, 2011
"By Faith"
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5
What a simple, straight forward verse, very plain and to the point. What is so hard about understanding what this verse says? It isn't hard to understand its meaning, but applying it and living your life by it isn't always easy.
We, being human, like to try to "figure" things out. We want to know exactly how the problem is going to be solved. This is often a "hurdle" that we have to get over when it comes to putting our trust in God in a situation. Our trust is attached to what we can see, understand, comprehend and figure out. As long as we can figure it out, we trust Him. In reality, that is not trust. True trust and faith in God has nothing to do with whether we understand it or not. It has nothing to do with whether we can see the solution or not. True faith and trust in God is linked it His character. Our trust is, or should be, based on who He is and the fact that He is faithful to do what He says He will do.
The just live by faith, not by our ability to understand everything because the truth is- we won't always understand everything. Faith has nothing to do with seeing or understanding, it is the evidence of what we don't see. Mary didn't understand how she could conceive a child when she had not been with a man, and even though it happened to her, she still couldn't tell you how it was possible except through God. But she put her trust in God's word about the situation and conceived.
We can't figure out how God is going to do a thing or answer a prayer. We just have to trust that He will do it and that He will do it in the best way.
Have a great day. If we could figure it out, we wouldn't need to have faith in God and we could solve our own problems.
For further reading:
Luke 1:34-38
Isaiah 55:8,9
Hebrews 10:38; 11:1,6
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
What a simple, straight forward verse, very plain and to the point. What is so hard about understanding what this verse says? It isn't hard to understand its meaning, but applying it and living your life by it isn't always easy.
We, being human, like to try to "figure" things out. We want to know exactly how the problem is going to be solved. This is often a "hurdle" that we have to get over when it comes to putting our trust in God in a situation. Our trust is attached to what we can see, understand, comprehend and figure out. As long as we can figure it out, we trust Him. In reality, that is not trust. True trust and faith in God has nothing to do with whether we understand it or not. It has nothing to do with whether we can see the solution or not. True faith and trust in God is linked it His character. Our trust is, or should be, based on who He is and the fact that He is faithful to do what He says He will do.
The just live by faith, not by our ability to understand everything because the truth is- we won't always understand everything. Faith has nothing to do with seeing or understanding, it is the evidence of what we don't see. Mary didn't understand how she could conceive a child when she had not been with a man, and even though it happened to her, she still couldn't tell you how it was possible except through God. But she put her trust in God's word about the situation and conceived.
We can't figure out how God is going to do a thing or answer a prayer. We just have to trust that He will do it and that He will do it in the best way.
Have a great day. If we could figure it out, we wouldn't need to have faith in God and we could solve our own problems.
For further reading:
Luke 1:34-38
Isaiah 55:8,9
Hebrews 10:38; 11:1,6
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Friday, April 1, 2011
"Lack of Faith"
"Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
Are you struggling with an issue? Are you having a hard time doing what you know is the right thing to do? Are you wrestling with keeping the commandments in a certain area? Then go to God about it. Tell Him you are struggling and ask for His help.
In my early Christian walk I was taught that you don't "confess" anything that is "negative" (even to God), and admitting that you are weak and struggling was considered negative. So I was left to try to solve my own dilemmas- which of course I never could do. I was told that all I had to do was just "speak the Word" (speak positive) and it would all be all right. There is power in God's word and we do need to remember what His word says concerning our situation, but it is not "negative" or wrong to admit to Him that you have a problem.
Asking God for help when you are struggling is not a sign of weak faith, it actually shows a great deal of faith because you are putting your trust in God's ability to help you. It takes faith to go to God and believe that He will help you.
He knows you are struggling with that issue and He wants to help you, that is why He makes Himself available to you. That is why He has given us the invitation to come to Him. So go to Him. Don't try to handle it yourself. Ask for His help. Ask for His strength. Ask Him to give you whatever it is that you need in order to get victory in this area.
Have a great day. It is not a lack of faith to admit to God that you need His help.
For further reading:
Hebrews 11:6
James 4:2
Luke 11:9
2 Corinthians 12:9
Mark 9:23,24
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
Are you struggling with an issue? Are you having a hard time doing what you know is the right thing to do? Are you wrestling with keeping the commandments in a certain area? Then go to God about it. Tell Him you are struggling and ask for His help.
In my early Christian walk I was taught that you don't "confess" anything that is "negative" (even to God), and admitting that you are weak and struggling was considered negative. So I was left to try to solve my own dilemmas- which of course I never could do. I was told that all I had to do was just "speak the Word" (speak positive) and it would all be all right. There is power in God's word and we do need to remember what His word says concerning our situation, but it is not "negative" or wrong to admit to Him that you have a problem.
Asking God for help when you are struggling is not a sign of weak faith, it actually shows a great deal of faith because you are putting your trust in God's ability to help you. It takes faith to go to God and believe that He will help you.
He knows you are struggling with that issue and He wants to help you, that is why He makes Himself available to you. That is why He has given us the invitation to come to Him. So go to Him. Don't try to handle it yourself. Ask for His help. Ask for His strength. Ask Him to give you whatever it is that you need in order to get victory in this area.
Have a great day. It is not a lack of faith to admit to God that you need His help.
For further reading:
Hebrews 11:6
James 4:2
Luke 11:9
2 Corinthians 12:9
Mark 9:23,24
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact.
Please remember to give credit to
About the Master's Business Ministry
To unsubscribe from the Coffee Break mailing list, just hit "reply" and put "unsubscribe" in the subject line.
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